Incident command post exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and particulate matter during a wildfire

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Safety
• Wildfire Science

Background:

• Wildland firefighters are exposed to hazardous air pollutants like PAHs and PM2.5 during wildfire suppression.
• Exposure can occur on the fireline and at incident command posts (ICPs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposures near an ICP during a California wildfire.
• To inform strategies for reducing firefighter exposure to wildfire smoke.

Main Methods:

• Collected area air samples for 17 individual PAHs and hourly PM2.5 concentrations over 12 days.
• Utilized XAD4-coated quartz fiber filters and XAD2 sorbent tubes for PAH analysis.
• Measured PM2.5 using an Environmental Beta Attenuation Monitor.

Main Results:

• PAH concentrations were similar during day and night shifts.
• PM2.5 concentrations were higher during the day due to increased fire activity.
• Naphthalene, phenanthrene, and retene were the most abundant PAHs detected.

Conclusions:

• ICP location is critical for minimizing firefighter exposures.
• Clean air tents, HEPA filtration, or smaller, less smoky camps can reduce exposures.
• Even lower ICP exposures contribute to overall cumulative occupational risks for firefighters.